THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22836, 21 March 1936, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD

FARM AND STATION NEWS

By RUSTICUS.

Items of interest to thosa engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, «rith a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. Jh*y should bo addressed to Rusticus, Otago Daily Times, Dunediifc

WOOL-SELLING SEASON ROSTER OF SALES The following wool sales have yet to be held in the Dominion this season:— 1936 Mar. 24—Auckland. Apr. 2—Dunedln. Mar. 27—Wanganul. Apr. 6— Wellington. MarSOr-Chrlstchurch.Apr. B—Napier. Otago Provincial Sheep Dog Assticiation Sheep dog trials for the 1938 season have been arranged ae follows: — Warepa.—March 19, 20, 21. Kuriwao. —March 24, 25. Patearoa.—March 20, 27, and 28. Strath-Taieri.—March 30, 31, April 1. Kyeburn.—April 2,3, 4. Waitaki.—April 13, 14, 15, 13. Dmarama.— April 17, 18. Tokarahi.—April 20, 21, 22. •Tahatika.—April 22, 23, 24, 25. Waihemo.—May 13, 14, 15. Ngapara.—May 18, 19, 20. Tarras.—May 21, 22, 23. Wanaka.—May 25, 26, 27. Lowburn.- -May 28, 29. 30. June 16, v l7, 18, and 19—South Island Championships, at Mossburn. •Otago Provincial Championship. 1935-36 SHOW SEASON FORTHCOMING EVENTS Showa have been arranged for the following dates during the 1935-36 season:— 1936 March 21.—Temuka and Geraldine, at Winchester. April 13.—Mackenzie County, at Fairlie. ~.,,, April 13.—Strath-Taieri, at Middlemarch.' The New Zealand Championship Trials will be held at Hawera this year, commencing on June 1. Motors in Agriculture The use of motors in agriculture, including steam engines, petrol. engines and electric motors has been surveyed by the International Institute of Agriculture and is reported by H. J. Hopfen, of the institute in its International Review just issued at Home. This report shows, that the United States has the largest number of tractors engaged in agricultural work, more than in all other countries combined, while Soviet Russia and Canada hold second and third places respectively. The United States also has the largest number of fixed internal combustion engines, but Germany leads in. the number of electric motors used m agriculture. In numbers of harvesterthreshers the United States leads, With Russia, Argentina and Canada following in the order mentioned. With high prices, highly mechanised farms have realised bigger profits than farms using animal power, but agricultural distress h&» been more felt during the years of crisis on highly mechanised farms than on farms where animal traction has been retained in addition to mechanical traction, because the costs of upkeep of animals have decreased considerably while the working costs of tractors have remained the same or have increased. The degree of mechanisation depends on a number of factors, of which size of farms and conditions of land tenure may be considered the most important. Conditions for mechanisation are less favourable in European countries (excluding Russia), where farms are smaller, and. even more, the wide distribution of small fields is a handicap to highly developed mechanisation. The article suggests that mechanisation has had an enormous influence on production, and has reduced the cost in a measure that would have been considered impossible until recent times. Most countries reacted to this lowering of production cost, which in turn caused a fall in prices. # by establishes quotas and Customs duties.

" FEEDINESS '* NEW TERM IN DAIRYING INTERESTING ENGLISH COMMENT FOOD TAINTS IN BUTTER Uncle Sam is not, to be left undisputed king of word inventors (says the Journal ot*the British Ministry 01 Agriculture). There are young men in New Zealand with eyes on the title. In the latest report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research —an exhilarating record of progress in " practical " Bcience —the word " ieediuess " makes ita bow to the English public, though not in the usual dress of 'a debutante, inverted commas. Judging by the context, it means the flavour in milk or cream attributable to food. It is not a particularly attractive word; but neither is the food flavour. New Zealand butter factories experience a good deal of trouble, from time to time, with taints arising from certain weeds and food plants; until recently, it was not known whether they were transmitted through the milk itself or through bacterial contamination. Careful investigation has now set that matter at rest. White, red, and trefoil clovers are the direct cause of a food taint in cream, the " fee'diness" of the latter depending on the amount and condition of the clover, and the lapse of time between active grazing and milking. The readiest means of avoiding " feediuees " lies, apparently, in encouraging grassiness in the paddocks. English cheesemakers will hear with interest this echo, from " down under," of their long-established belief. The announcement will doubtless revive the turnip controversy which still stand* much where it stood 20 years ago. All Brassicas are capable of tainting milk, and under the ordinary conditions of the farm it is scarcely possible to rule out any one of three possible routes —the cow. the dung that gains access to milk, and the atmosphere of the cowshed. Our own impression, after many years' experience in trying to produce clean milk, is that where reasonable care is exercised iu methods of production, the atmosphere is the commonest source of infection. It is difficult entirely to avoid a "turmpy smell in cowsheds when any member of the turnip tribe is being used. The acknowledged fact that excessive use of such foods is more likely to lead to taints than use in small quantities doea not necessarily implicate the cow; the more turnips are used, the more does the turnip flavour permeate the building. Most of lis visualise bacteria as destructive agents; whether they are parasitic or saprophytic their role is generally concerned with dissolution. Life, however, is not all blood-sucking for the little fleas. Round every corner of their microscopic world there lurk big fleas in the shape of protozoa—as we may know from a study of nitrate formation in soils. Also there are lesser fleas, known as bac-

teriophages able in some strange way to parasitise the parasites. Dairy researchers in New Zealand have stumbled on a new type of bacteriophage. It occurs in cheese and butter starters, and in some instances at least affordß a "complete explanation" of the way in which starter ''goes off." Earlier work had shown that the failure of starters was connected with aeration; apparently this stimulates the bacteriophage, which "flares up and actually dissolves the bacteria in the starter." It has not yet been found possible to exploit the new knowledge in dairy practice; but it would seem that we aro now approaching the solution oi a very formidable problem. PIG MARKETING THE, EXPORT TRADE INCREASE IN BACONERS , The number of baconers killed for export this season in New Zealand has exceeded last year's output by GI.OOO. There had, however, been an almost corresponding decrease in the number pi porkers exported, so that the total Kill shows only a small increase over that ot last season. . Referring to marketing conditions, Mr W. A. Phillips, chairman of directors ?t the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association, Ltd., stated recently that with the exception of the last three weeks, during which export values of pork had fallen by nearly Id per lb, the pork market had been unusually firm this year. The fall in prices referred to had been due to the forced disposal of stocks which had accumulated during the recent bmithficld strike, a disturbance which had caused a general dislocation of trade. Another factor which had a bearing on the position, said Mr Phillips, was that English producers had diverted to the porker market unusually large quantities of pigs which had hitherto gone into bacon consumption. Mr Phillips said both these factors were likely to be of a temporary nature and in consequence a recovery in trade conditions could be expected. There had been no notable changes in the baconer export season, and the demand had been steady, with values on the same average level as that of last year. Present New Zealand prices were firm, and with the approach of colder weather and reduced milk supplies producers were advised to buy cheap supplementary food, such as barley, which was at present available. , Concluding, Mr Phillips saiu his company had received satisfactory support during the season, the returns showing an improvement over those of last season. Over 100,000* pigs had been handled, an increase of 30,000. The company's operations had been extended to the Nelson and Wairarapa districts, giving it a coverage over the whole of the Dominion, CEREAL CROPS COMPARATIVE PROVINCIAL YIELDS SOUTHLAND'S SATISFACTORY AVERAGES The estimated cereal yields have been compiled from reports furnished by stock inspectors of the Department of Agriculture throughout the Dominion (states the Abstract of Statistics), and are based oa crop prospects at the end of January. They are as follows: WHEAT. Bushels per acre. North Island 29 Nelson 20 Marlborough 36 Canterbury .. 35 Otago 33 Southland 39 Average (estimated) for the Dominion 36 OATS. Bushels per acre. North Island 38 Nelson .. 29 Marlborough ' 48 Canterbury 43 Otago 37 Southland 49 ■ Average (estimated) for the Dominion 43 BARLEY. Bushels per acre. . North Island 44 Nelson 30 Marlborough 45 Canterbury 32 Otago 39 Southland. 50 Average (estimated) for the Dominion 38 SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE. The Dominion estimates for each crop are substantially in advance of the yields for last season (a particularly poor one), the estimates for 1935-36 comparing with the ascertained yields in 1934-35 ns fol lows:—Wheat. 35 bushels (26.32 bushels) ; oats, 43 bushel*, (35.99 bushels); and barley, 38 bushels (26.28 bushels). , . The growing season in the principal crop-growing areas has been very favourable, in marked contrast to the situation in 1934-35, the statement continues. Total Dominion yields, for the 1935-36 seafion, based on the estimates of average yields in each district shown in the table, are anticipated to be as follows: —Wheat, 8,400,000 bushels (actual yield last season, 5,933,245 bushels); oats, 3,160.000 bushels (1,890.145 bushels in 1934-35); and barley, 700.000 bushels (484,689 bushels in 1934-351. In each of the two latter instances it is assumed that the proportion of the total area threshed will be the same in 1935-36 as in the average of the five previous seasons. While the estimates shown in this statement set out the position according to prospects at the end of January, the actual yields will probably be somewhat lower than the estimates. Between February 18 and 20 a severe storm occasioned considerable flooding in Canterbury, many of the principal grain-grow-ins districts being affected. It is as yet too earlv to estimate the effects on cropyields of this storm, but early reports indicate considerable losses to ripening crops and to grain in the stook. Since over 80 per cent, of the wheat crop and almost 40 per rent, of the oat crop are L ,rown in the Canterbury land district, it will be realised that the effect of the storm on Dominion yieds of these crops many lie considerable. WOOL IN FAVOUR STRONG SELLING MARKET UTILISATION INCREASES RAW MATERIAL VALUES Statistically, wool has been in a strong selling position this season, and that iact has asssisted to a great extent in providing a strong selling market (states a report from Winchcombe Carson, Ltd., Sydney). The situation in that respect, however, is not entirely due to the smaller quantities grown. Better business in most countries has been an important influence in putting the staple into an improved selling position and creating the higher level of values recorded. Advances in prices for most raw mate-

rials have been recorded during the past year. Cotton has maintained its value. Copper, lead, tin, and silver are all appreciably clearer than two years ago. Most important of all, the price of wheat ig considerably higher. That general advance is the most favourable indication. A reduced clip is a temporary factor, the effects of which disappear with good seasons, but the general uplift in the world's trade is likely to prove a more permanent influence on the well-being of the wool market. Prices were so unsatisfactory in recent seasons that the impression was apt to be held that wool waa losing its favour as a textile fibre. But every commodity was abnormally cheap. Experiences of the past 12 months support the belief that wool is holding its favour, and in some respects its utilisation is expanding. The only important country in which the use of the staple has receded to a marked extent is Italy. Demand from that quarter has been negligible in Australia. South Africa has also had decidedly curtailed Italian orders, and purchases have also fallen off appreciably in South America. Circumstances and not the disfavour of wool have been responsible for that reduction. The largest production of artificial fibres occurred in the United States, the wool consumption last year being 700,000,0001 b, 70 per cent, of which was used in the manufacture of men's clothing. It might bo considered that Government orders gave a special fillip to the textile trade. Only 6 per cent, of the total was vted for that purpose. Some authorities consider that millmen abroad will be short of supplies in the monthß ahead, owing to the absence of opportunity to replenish stocks of raw material. BAN ON PEDIGREE STOCK PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, February 22. Breeders' associations in this country lose no opportunity of complaining of the New Zealand embargo on pedigree stock. An excellent opportunity came when_ the New Zealand correspondent of The Times mentioned that New Zealand farmers were apprehensive about Great Britain s future policy as regards imports of meat end dairy produce. The secretary of the National Pig Breeders' Association (Mr Alec Hobsqn) was quick to retort that it is surprising that the Dominion continues to maintain a virtual embargo on British pedigree 'stock. The writer adds in a letter to The Times: — , , , "The psychological effect of this ban is not an inconsiderable factor in the minds of many British agriculturists.. New Zealand sends to England upwards of t 27,000,000 worth of agricultural produce yearly, but while they admit pedigree stock from America, direct shipments of animals from Great Britain—indisputably the best in the world—are kept out. Adequate safeguards against the introduction of disease have been evolved by our Ministry of Agriculture and have been accepted by every other Dominion."